Continuing care | FCA Scotland

What is Continuing Care?

Normally, young people leave the care system when they turn 18. For many, that’s a big step and research shows that leaving care too soon can lead to poorer outcomes, often because they haven’t had the time or support they need to prepare for adulthood.

Continuing Care, sometimes known as Staying Put, helps change that. It allows young people in long-term foster placements to stay with their foster family beyond the age of 18, usually up to 21. This gives them stability, reassurance and ongoing support while they take their next steps into adult life.

By delaying the move on from care, young people can build confidence, develop independence at their own pace, and enjoy better outcomes both now and in the future.

Continuing care at FCA Scotland

Continuing care was introduced into Scotland as part of the Children’s and Young People’s Act 2014, and at FCA Scotland we’re able to offer and support this service, helping many young people confidently start the next stage and chapter of their lives.

Continuing care takes children through to the age of 21, ensuring a more seamless and supported transition to adulthood. It’s available to all young people who are, or have been, in a continuing relationship with a foster carer.

How is continuing care different to fostering?

Even though the fundamentals remain much the same as fostering, continuing care is legally different to fostering.

For example, instead of being described as ‘looked after’, young people become known as a ‘young adult and a care leaver’, while the child’s foster carer becomes known as a ‘former foster carer’. Equally, the foster placement becomes a ‘continuing care arrangement’ and is no longer governed by fostering regulations. Nor is it automatically eligible for the same financial support and incentives, which have to be agreed individually.

Support

Here at FCA Scotland we were quick to realise the benefits of continuing care, and we’ve worked hard to incorporate it within our service. As a result, we’ve put together a strong package of support to ensure it works effectively for everyone. So now, foster carers can extend the care and support they offer beyond the age of 18, provided it’s the right solution for everyone involved.

Any other questions? Check out our FAQs here

Fostering Allowances

You’ll receive a generous fostering payment for every week a child or young person is in your care, designed to reward your professionalism and commitment.

Find out more about our fostering allowances here.

How to become a permanent foster carer

To become a foster carer the first step is to fill out our online form and we’ll be in touch to talk to you more about fostering, check you meet the initial criteria to foster and of course answer any questions you may have. Our team will then arrange to visit you at home, so find out in more depth about fostering and also give us the opportunity to get to know you better. You’ll then need to fill in an application form and, if accepted, you’ll start your full fostering assessment.

Interested in becoming a foster carer with FCA Scotland?

Do you have the skills and compassion needed to be a foster parent? Enter your town or postcode to find your nearest office or get in touch today.

Other types of fostering

Long term fostering

For a child or young person this means that the care planning process has concluded that they will thrive best if they are cared for away from home on a permanent basis. This type of fostering would mean caring for a child or young person until independence.

Interim fostering

Interim fostering involves caring for a baby, child or young person for a few weeks or months while difficulties at home are resolved and is often linked to further assessments of the young person or family members together with court processes.

Child in short term foster care having fun

Short break fostering

Also known as respite fostering, this is where a foster carer takes on the care and support of a child or young person so that the usual foster carer can take a well-deserved break. We offer all of our foster carers respite care every year.

Solo fostering

In some cases, it’s often important for the child or young person to be a ‘solo’ placement – in other words, they’re the only child in the home. That means solo fostering is usually only suitable for foster carers without other children in their home.

Fostering siblings

Keeping brothers and sisters together after being placed in foster care is crucial. This type of fostering focuses on matching sibling groups with foster homes big enough for multiple foster children and foster parents who are capable of meeting their needs.

Specialist fostering

Calling for huge amounts of care, compassion and patience, this type of fostering often involves handling medications and managing complex care routines, so it’s especially demanding on your time and commitment.

Asylum seeking children

Fostering unaccompanied asylum-seeking children can be extremely rewarding experience as you provide them with a safe and secure home environment. Your role is to support them for as long as they need, helping them adapt to a new culture.

Speak to our team

Whether you’re ready to start your journey or just want to chat to an expert, we’re here to talk.

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